Impregnating machine



Oct, 4, 1949. c. w. ZIES IMPREGNATING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan.19, 1945 INVENTOR. C1981. M 2/58 Oct. 4, 1949. c. w. Z lES 2,483,864

IMPREGNATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1945 4 sheets-sheet z I N V EN TOR.CARL W. 2/55 Arr vs. 7

Oct. 4, 1949. c. w. ZIES IMPREGNATING MACHINE -4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledJan. 19, 1945 INVENTOR.

CHIQL w. Z/ES /V/ a w W Qua/7774 Arr'Ys.

Oct. 4, 1949.

Filed Jan. 19, 1945 C. W. ZIES IMPREGNATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. CARL m Z155 BY v hyde and Patented Dot. 4, 1949 IMPREGNATINGMACHINE Carl W. Zies, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, toThe V. D. Anderson Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication January 19, 1945, Serial No. 573,494 Claims. (01. 127-1)This invention relates to continuous screw presses, and moreparticularly to presses specially designed or adapted for use inimpregnating certain cellulosic materials with acid for the purpose ofhydrolysis in processes for the production of sugar or alcohol, or foranalogous uses. In such processes suitable cellulosic material, such ascorn cobs, is sprayed or otherwise Wetted with dilute acid, and is thensubjected to pressure at an appropriate temperature for the desiredperiod; The process requires means for applying pressure to the materialand for either heating or cooling it, all preferably continuously withconstant progression of the raw material through the apparatus, and withthe ability to control temperature The present invention has for itsobject to provide simple and convenient apparatus, of screw press form,suitable for the purpose, such apparatus including a pressure screwrotating on a vertical axis and provided with improved means for drivingit, for supporting the weight of the parts, for taking care of theendwise thrust, for supplying the raw material and removing the finishedproduct, for controlling the temperature by supplying either a heatingor a cooling effect, and for compelling advance of the material throughthe machine.

Still another'object is to provide improved apparatus of the characterdescribed which is of simple form involving relatively few parts, all ofwhich are durable and not likely to get out of order in service, theentire machine being quite compact and requiring minimum floor space.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through the upper half of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a similar section through the lower half of the machine;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional plan views taken respectively on thelines 33, 4-4, and 55, Fig.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional plan views on the lines 6-5, and 'I'I, Fig.1; and

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of a portion of the machine, viewed fromthe bottom of Fig. 7.

The apparatus selected for illustration in the drawings, comprises aframe including a base I adapted to rest upon the floor or other supportand provided with several, three being shown, channel form columns orposts 2 on which are mounted an upper head or platform 3 to support thedriving motor ii and other parts, and several plate like horizontalshelves 5, 6, I, the latter carrying a sloping discharge plate 8 lyingbetween two parallel side plates 9 and adapted to receive the solidresidue and discharge it forwardly, or to the left in Fig. 2. Plate Ialso supports a heavy metal guide or bearing sleeve I0.

Posts 2 may bottom on the base I, as shown, so that the entire machineis above the floor level, or, if desired the base I may be attached toposts 2 at any point intermediate their upper and lower ends, with thecentral portion of the base cut away to receive the other parts of themachine, thus permitting the machine to be supported from the floorabove and to extend downwardly through a floor opening into the roombeneath.

Rigidly secured, as by welding, in openings in the several shelves, andextending along a vertical axis centered between the several posts 2 areinner and outer concentric imperforate tubes or barrel members II, I2,spaced apart to provide an annular cavity or space I3 between them.

The inner tube is fairly thick and strong, to withstand pressure, butthe outer tube may be of thinner metal since it serves only as a jacket.

Barrel member II extends above the head or platform 3 and supports adisc IIa on which is rigidly mounted suitable transmission mechanismshown conventionally at I4. This may include bevel or other gearing andchange speed devices, if desired (not shown), for transmitting power atany desired speed ratio from the horizontal input shaft I5 to thevertical output shaft I6. Input shaft I5 is driven by motor 4, the shaftI! of which is provided with a sprocket I8 connected by chain I 8a to asprocket I9 on shaft I5.

If desired, the transmission mechanism may be of simpler form, omittingchange speed gears, and speed changes may be secured by changes in thesizes of the two sprockets I8, I9, or by using a change speed motor, allas will readily occur to one skilled in the art.

The lower end of output shaft I6 enters and bottoms in a recess orsocket in a solid plug 20 welded into the upper end of a tubular feedershaft 2I and is suitably connected to drive said shaft, as by a key orthe cross pin 22 shown. This feeder shaft is located concentrically withan within barrel member II, but is smaller, leaving an annular space 23closed at its upper end by plate Ila and in which are located a seriesof spiral vane flights 24 welded to shaft 2| and spaced length wisethereof. Each vane flight makes one or more turns around the shaft axisand the trailing edge of each is spaced, longitudinally of the shaft,from the leading end of the next, leaving a gap between each two vaneflights to receive an abutment member, such as a stationary knife or pin25. As shown the first flight 24a extends about 2 turns about the axisand has a relatively quick pitch. It lies opposite the feedopening andismore effective uponv the loose material as fed to the machine. Thepitch of the remaining vane flights decreases until those at the loweror discharge end, where the material becomes most dense, me quiteslow,compared to the early flight 24a. The peripheral edge portions of allfiightsof course .closel-yzhug the inner surface of the barrelll. g

Abutment pins or members 25 -are'scr(-$wed through threaded openingsinitwopppositely dia posed bars 26 welded in place between the inner andthe outer barrel tubes ii, I2, dividing the cavity it into twosemicyclindrical halves and enabling the pins to he adjustedorreplacedafrom theputside of the barrel, by .direct application of a;tool, notwithstanding its jacket.construction.. H The material to becompressed is fed to the machine. by intrcducingit into a hopper 2'!welded to and at one side of the barreland com municating with ..theworking space below plate lilaeby waymof :the.-feeding opening .28.Both. tubes. H, I2 'of the barrel terminate at their lower ends at shelf-6, -so thattheapreesing space opens or discharges above the slopindis-' charge plate 8 which directs the finished or treated materialoutwardly from the machine.

Screw shaft 2!, however, extends-through plate 8' and shelf 1- and isjournalled'in the tube I a bearing. Its entire weight is supported fromabove by the plate Ho and the press frame on which said'plate ismounted. a

Each of the-semicylindrical halves of the chamber-l3 between tubes H,-I2 is provided atits upper and lower ends with a pipeZS-by means of whicheither steam for heating; or wateror other fluid 'agent for coolingmaybe circulated through said cavity, usually from bottom to top. Thus aheating or cooling effect may be applied gdirectlyto the externalsurface 'of'theinner barrel inelnber l I and close to the tube like massof material being treated under pressure. I

Preferably the machineis designed so thata similar effect maybe applied;to the tub ular mass of material from the inside, through the tubularwall of the screw shaft. For. this'purpcse apart of thefra'me, suchasshelf 1, whasri dly secured thereto 9. depending bracket 38haylnglabottom plate ti on which is mounted atube 32 con-.- centricallydisposed within shaft 2| but smaller, to. provide anvannular cavity.33,and somewhat shorter, stoppingshort ofplug 2 0 at,its .upper end. Thelower end of tube 32 is closed by aplug 34 having a threadedopeningdS-to receiveapipe 3,6, and plate 3| supports asleeve 3]. havingpack ing' 38 and a side opening to; receive pipe. .39. Fluid. may besuppliedthrough pipe 3.9,.fillingthe cavity. andlexerting a.cooling.effect,,and be 65 discharged through tube 32 and by way of pipe36. Heating steam may be similarly circulated.

' Usually sleeve 3711s mountedmponasupplemental disk .40 rotatablyadjustable 1on.-di s k, -3l by loosening the clamping bolts ll passingthronghshort circumferential slots in plate 3|- This enables the watersupply 1: ipe; as to be brought in from anydirection.

. -i a erpa g dklis c p bl -b s 'iie eiii leseli p s sand the nv nii nnqti ieited 4 to any particular use. One manner of use may be referredto as illustrative and in no sense of limitation.

In the treatment of corn cobs or other cellulosic material forconversion into sugar or alcohol, the

cellulosic material, usually finely divided or com- ;ninuted, is sprayedor otherwise mixed with dilute acid. The material so wetted isfed to thehopper 21' while the machine is in operation with the screw shaftrotating in the proper direction -to move the material downwardly. Itenters the an lularecayity 23, is engaged by the vane flights 24a, 24,and is caused to move downwardly, ex-

- -perieneing'increasedcompression, while so movl5 ins 23? gt e decreasein pitch of the successive flights. Pins'25 prevent the material fromrotatpi ,in with. the ,scremgand compel it to move forward. By properlyproportioning the machine as to-length and diameter of screw shaft, rateof rotation, etc., the material is held under co m pressionin-the-maohine for adesired period, withinreasonable limits. 'Whileunder compression it may be subjected to any desired tempera ture effectby the use of either or both of the jacketeavitiesone-within and theoutside ofthe moving tubular column of materialwBarrel H is imperfor-ate. Therefore no liquid'is-expressed from the masabut the entiremass'isdischarged along the sloping shelf 8 and delivered to anysuitable container or chute or "in a-pile on ,the

floor.

In one particularmachine used in the manner described, maximumpressuremay be securedup to 4500 pounds per square inch. The worm shaftturns at R; P. M. with a capacity of 500 pounds, perhel r u in 2%. 0.2%es ure va 29? m yb s u e br dif er ntwo m ha ts wit various. itc ofwormfligntsc by ya yin th m isture co t n o imm a entering the m s l r xampth s mat rial, .e. corn cobs, containing-. 75%,..moisture, developed. on20-30 pounds. per square inch, whereas reduction of the moisturecoritent,to.-.5,0% increasedthe possible pressure to 300 pounds .persquar inch. Bressure maybe also controlled by utilizing ;an ordinaryadjustable choke;-;mechanism at the outlet, such as shown, fo ,6. 3 2 .9ml t nhNQ@ 78i an ed N vember; c.19 Et- TwAn e f o Pr ss i .;Theapparatus described isof relatively simple form deyelops high pressures,applies heat or a cooling effect to the material both internally andexternally, has vhigh capacity and. is:durable1:in serfvice, The-:weightof .all heavy partslis supported 'from..the upper platform and'theseveral shelves. Upward thrust is transmitted-to-the transmission-.-rne'chanism directly: through shaft l6 where it bottoms'inits=recessand notthrough pin 12 2. The screw shaftis of -'relativelylight weight, because tubular, and yet-isstrong enough for its purpose.Repairs and adjustments, as, of pins 25, are simple and may be, made-bysimple operations. -Radial thrust. on ,the bearings is practicallyeliminated by vertical disposition of the. sc w.. h it c a ran m t-a sut li ing gravity to assist in, feeding the materialand forcing itdownward" along the shaft through the compressionshamber. ,It alsoenables the proper lubricating oil level readilYiWhe maint n d n he r nmi Bu .und ce ta n senditic s. th .a o th sh f mar-Ja horiaontaLaswillbe readily understood.-, V Qther; advantages of the invention villbe ap rares .tqs hqseslsihedr. n:the.art 91 e What I claim is:

1. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting animperforate. jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower endand having a material feed opening on one side near its upper end, ahollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and providedwithin it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upperend of said shaft being closed and having a, member extending throughthe upper end of the barrel and from which it depends and by means ofwhich it is driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portionfree of worm flights extending below the barrel, and a radial sleevebearing mounted on the frame at a level below the lower end of thebarrel and through and beyond which the plain cylindrical portion ofsaid shaft extends.

2. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting animperforate jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower endand having a, material feed opening on one side near its upper end, ahollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and providedwithin it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upperend of said shaft being closed and having a member extending through theupper end of the barrel and from which it depends and by means of whichit is driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portion freeof worm flights extending below the barrel, a radial sleeve bearingmounted on the frame at a level below the lower end of the barrel andthrough and beyond which the plain cylindrical portion of said shaftextends, and an inclined :i;

delivery shelf also mounted on the frame between the lower end of thebarrel and the lower end of said bearin by means of which the materialdischarged from the barrel is deflected laterally.

3. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting animperforate jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower endand having a material feed opening on one side near its upper end, ahollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and providedwithin it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upperend of said shaft bein closed and having a member extending through theupper end of the barrel and from which it depends and by means of whichit is driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portion freeof worm flights extending below the barrel, a radial sleeve bearingmounted on the frame at a level below the lower end of the barrel andthrough and beyond which the plain cylindrical portion of said shaftextends, a packing sleeve surroundin the worm shaft below said radialbearing and supported on the frame, and a fluid circulation tube ofsmaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the shaft, saidtube having its upper end open and being supported on said sleeve inposition coaxial with said shaft to provide inner and outer channelswithin the shaft through which fluid may be circulated.

4. An impregnating machine, comprising an upright frame supporting animperforate jacketed cylindrical vertical barrel open at its lower endand having a material feed opening on one side near its upper end, ahollow imperforate worm shaft coaxial with the barrel and providedwithin it with worm flights decreasing in pitch downwardly, the upperend of said shaft being closed and having a member extending through theupper end of the barrel from which it depends and by means of which itis driven and its lower end having a plain cylindrical portion free ofworm flights extending below the barrel, a radial sleeve bearing mountedon the frame at a level below the lower end of the barrel and throughand beyond which the plain cylindrical portion of said shaft extends, aninclined delivery shelf also mounted on the frame between the lower endof the barrel and the lower end of said bearing by means of which thematerial discharged from the barrel is deflected laterally, a packingsleeve surrounding the worm shaft below said radial bearing andsupported on the frame, and a fluid circulation tube of smaller externaldiameter than the internal diameter of the shaft, said tube having itsupper end open and being supported on said sleeve in position coaxialwith said shaft to provide inner and outer channels within the shaftthrough which fluid may be circulated.

5. An impregnating machine, comprisin a frame supporting a cylindricalvertical barrel, a worm shaft coaxial with said barrel and havinglongitudinally spaced separate worm flights located and rotatable withinthe barrel, said barrel consisting of two tubular wall members spacedapart radially to provide an annular jacket space between them throughwhich fluid may be circulated, a filler member extendin across thejacket space from one wall member to the other and having a sealedconnection to each wall member, said filler member and the two wallswhich it connects being provided with a through opening, and a knifemember mounted in said opening with its inner end extending into thespace between two adjacent worm flights for preventing rotation of thematerial with the worm shaft, the outer end of said knife member beingaccessible from the outside of the outer wall member of the barrel forremoving or otherwise manipulating the same.

CARL W. ZIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 287,360 Bell Oct. 23, 18831,758,272 Anderson May 13, 1930 1,834,577 Cline Dec. 1, 1931 1,848,236Anderson Mar. 8, 1932 1,971,632 Anderson Aug. 28, 1934 2,086,701 DreyfusJuly 13, 1937 2,119,162 Hartner May 31, 1938 2,426,677 Fulmer et a1.Sept. 2, 1947

